Cache Busting
A technique for forcing browsers and CDNs to fetch updated files by appending version information to filenames or query parameters.
Cache busting forces browsers and CDNs to invalidate stale cached versions when static files are updated. While long-term caching benefits performance, it causes outdated content to persist after updates.
Primary approaches include filename hashing (logo.a3f2b1.png) and query parameters (logo.png?v=20250507). Filename hashing guarantees CDN cache invalidation since the URL itself changes. Query parameters are simpler to implement but some CDNs may ignore query strings.
Build tools (webpack, Vite) automatically generate hashed filenames during bundling. Integrating cache busting into image optimization pipelines ensures optimized image updates reliably reach users.